Reciprocal pricing helps fans

The cost of away tickets for Premier League fans has been a constant source of complaint.   Many fans feel with some justification that they have been priced out of following their team away, particularly when one factors in the cost of travel.

The cost of away tickets for Premier League fans has been a constant source of complaint.   Many fans feel with some justification that they have been priced out of following their team away, particularly when one factors in the cost of travel.

Newcastle United do not have the reputation of being a particularly fan friendly club, although they have been trying to improve their image.    By pioneering the idea of reciprocal pricing, they have come up with a practical way of dealing with the away ticket issue.   They have concluded an agreement for a second successive season with Stoke City which means that fans from both clubs will not pay more than £20 for an away ticket.

They have also concluded similar agreements with West Ham United and Watford, but there lies the rub. None of these clubs are in the ‘top’ club category in the sense of being Champions League candidates, although West Ham might aspire to be so.   If a club like Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United agrees to reciprocal pricing, then real progress will have been made.